Mumbai: Mega star Amitabh Bachchan, who turned 69 on Tuesday, says one of the best ways to celebrate birthdays is to keep working.

Despite completing 40 years in Bollywood, the ageing actor is not the one to rest on his laurels. He is busy shooting for Ram Gopal Varma’s Department, despite getting injured on the sets of the film. He is also hosting the season 5 of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) on Sony TV.

“One of the best ways to bring in birthdays is to be working at what you need to be working on…I work because of I need to ….love!!,” Bachchan said.

The actor returned home at midnight after shooting for the diwali episodes of KBC and said he could just make it home in time for the clock to strike 12 and for the family to wish him. “The greatest joys of life are in the simple wishes,” he said.

Immediately afterwards, he settled to interact with fans from all over the world on his blog and micro-blogging site twitter.

“It is past midnight! It is my birthday today! It is another year gone by! It is stepping in to the 70th year for me! Thank you! Have just been released from the clutches of work form KBC… and here to thank you all for the love and affection you shower!! “They ask me what I wish for my birthday .. why only on the birthday, it should be everyday… I wish another day to pass in peace ! Thank you all once again for all the Birthday wishes … I am so humbled and filled with pride .. you make it all happen .. my love,” he said.

“As I step into the 70’s unabashedly, I need to thank several of those that I feel were the ones that seemed distressed with the number of my age. But no they are not so! When they speak of age and involvement, why must we only look upon the aged, onto those that show the ravishes of time and the hunger of recognition. I would imagine that we must let the world be as it is and allow whatever shape it desires to take vis-a-vis individuals,” he wrote.

Bachchan gained popularity in the early 1970s as the ‘angry young man’ of Hindi cinema, with films like Agneepath, Trishul, Deewar, Zanjeer.

Year 2011 saw Bachchan rekindle his ‘angry young man’ image, that he is best known for, in Bbuddha Hoga Terra Baap. But on the personal front, he is set to become a grandfather again, as son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai are expecting their first child.

The actor had said that he felt the grandchild would bring the child in him. (PTI)

London: Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $340,000 for famine victims in Somalia.

“I’m so grateful – I don’t want to cry – to the refugee families that I have the honour and privilege to spend the last years with. From them I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned to be a better person, a better mother. They’ve inspired me by showing me the unbreakable strength of the human spirit,” she said.

Contactmusic.com reports that the couple gave the money through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation to the Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid, which helps care for mothers who have been displaced from the war-torn nation.

Mohamed Dahir from the organisation said the money would allow for an expansion of the Badbaado camp in Mogadishu – the capital city of Somalia – which takes in around 300 women and children every day.

Around 29,000 children under the age of five reportedly died due to drought and famine in the country, and the United Nations claims 750,000 people are at risk of starving to death in the next few months. (IANS)

Los Angeles: Hollywood veteran Clint Eastwood is returning to acting with sports film Trouble With The Curve.

The 81-year-old star, whose directing effort include films like Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino, is keen to star in the movie, which tells the story of an ageing baseball scout who has lost his eyesight but sets out on one last trip with his daughter to watch an upcoming star, reported Ace Showbiz.

The Warner Bros film is set to be directed by Robert Lorenz, who worked with the actor on Mystic River and Blood Work, while the script has been written by Randy Brown.

Eastwood, who previously claimed his last acting role would be in 2008’s Gran Torino, where he took up the role of lead character Walt Kowalski – recently said that he would consider playing the next James Bond.

“I don’t know, I never say never, like James Bond or something,” he said.

Eastwood’s next movie endeavour is J Edgar, which he directed, and a remake of A Star is Born alongside Beyonce Knowles, but that is thought to have been delayed because she is pregnant. (PTI)

New Delhi: One filmmaker said it was Jagjit Singh’s songs that made his film touch millions of hearts, an actor said the ghazal singer was the king of soulful music, and yet another said it was a personal loss. Bollywood bid an emotional farewell to the singer after his death on Monday, saying he never needed films to be popular.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher said: “Jagjit Singh’s death is a personal loss. His music was soothing and healing. It had a direct connection with the heart. He was not a showman, he was very down to earth. His music connected effortlessly.”

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: “My film Arth would not have touched the hearts of millions of people without the contribution of Jagjit Singh. Thank you friend.”

“I am in shock after hearing about Jagjitji’s death. It is such a big loss, an end of an era. He was one artist who never needed films to get popular. He was an instant hit,” said singing legend Lata Mangeshkar.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan posted on his Twitter account: “So sad to hear of the demise of Jagjit Singhji. May Allah bless his soul.”

Producer and director Karan Johar tweeted: “I grew up listening to the brilliance of Jagjit Singh … my mother was a big fan and then made me one … RIP sir!!! Loss of a true legend.”

“Saddened to know ‘The Ghazal King’, Jagjit Singh is no more. Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho, this song makes me misty-e,” Akshay Kumar tweeted.

“I can’t imagine the days when I will no longer be able to hear his silken voice, no longer be able to talk to him or listen to his new songs. Now his old ghazals is all we have. His soothing voice, his warmhearted nature are all gone now. He was the pride of India. I also feel bad for his wife Chitra, she is all alone now,” said Asha Bhosle.

Shabana Azmi: “Jagjit Singh no more. His contribution to the ghazal in India is unparalleled. Big loss.”

Shekhar Kapur: “A heart that captured millions through poetry n song. G’bye Jagjit, dear friend.”

Preity Zinta: “May god give peace to Mr. Jagjit Singh’s soul ! He was the king of poetry & soulful music; He will live in our hearts forever … R.I.P.”

Madhur Bhandarkar: “Terribly shocked to hear the sad demise of Jagjit Singhji, in u i have lost a dear friend, yr soulful songs will remain till eternity.”

Shreya Ghoshal: “Jagjit Ji passes away. One of the saddest days for all us music lovers. The golden voice will not sing anymore. Rest in peace.” (IANS)

John Travolta’s movie on hold

London: John Travolta’s upcoming movie about the notorious Gotti family has been put on hold due to financial issues. Travolta, 57, is due to star as late Mafia boss John Gotti – who died in prison in 2002 – in upcoming movie Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father alongside his real-life wife Kelly Preston and actor Al Pacino, Daily Star reported. Filming is slated to begin in January but a new report suggests production has been put on hold. Reports suggest work on the project has come to a halt and won’t resume until more financing is secured. “If (producer) Marc Fiore doesn’t come up with money this week, and doesn’t show that more is coming, and that he’s really secured financing, it could all fall apart,” a source said. The film’s producers are also facing a legal battle with Goodfellas star Joe Pesci, who has sued bosses at Fiore Films over allegations that he was offered a 2 million pounds deal to play Angelo Ruggiero, an associate of Gotti. (PTI)

Baby is due in February: Beyonce

Los Angeles: Pop star Beyonce Knowles has confirmed that her baby is due to be born next February and says she feels blessed and grateful. The 30-year-old singer publicly announced she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child together at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, reported Ace Showbiz. “My husband and I have been together for 10 years – all of my 20s – and I just feel like it’s time and I’m very grateful that God has blessed me with the biggest gift any human being can have. I think because I’ve accomplished a lot of things for myself and I really know who I am, I didn’t rush into anything. If it’s any time, right now is the time, and I’m so happy,” she said. Knowles has previously revealed how difficult it was to keep her pregnancy a secret and conceal her baby bump, adding she is now proud to show it off to the world. “I am having so much fun, it has been the most fun time now that it has been announced. It was really difficult to conceal. But now I can be proud and excited about it, I’m having so much fun shopping – it’s great,” she added. (PTI)

Robert Downey Jr wants to direct

Los Angeles: Sherlock Holmes star Robert Downey Jr says he wants to eventually retire from acting and step behind the camera. The 46-year-old actor says Mel Gibson had dismissed the idea of directing while they worked together on 1990’s Air America, shortly before stepping behind the camera. The actor is now convinced he wants to follow his former co-star into the director’s chair, reported Los Angeles Times. “The great thing was working with Mel right before he went off and did Hamlet and started directing. I remember him telling someone on the set, ‘I would never be a director, it’s a terrible idea,’ and three years later he couldn’t not direct. “That’s where I’m heading towards now. It’s almost irresponsible learning what I’ve learned and having the influences and relationships I’ve had to not try to infuse that with movies more as a director,” Downey added. (PTI)